Nigeria, June 10 -- The nomination of Ikenga Ugochinyere (APP, Imo) as minority leader of the House of Representatives has triggered a fresh debate over the interpretation of the chamber's rules on eligibility for principal offices, exposing divisions among lawmakers over what constitutes adequate legislative experience for leadership positions.

The controversy played out during Wednesday's plenary when Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) sponsored a motion seeking clarity on the meaning of "cognate legislative experience" as contained in Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House.

The debate comes in the wake of the vacancy created by the resignation of former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who stepped down from the position a...